Greetings everyone and thanks for joining me for this edition of our Sunday School preview.  This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “Return to Love and Justice” and is found in selected verses from Hosea 11 and 12.  

Hosea prophesied at a time when some in Israel and Judah were doing well while others were being oppressed and shut out of the prosperity many were experiencing.  He was a contemporary of Isaiah and both of their messages centered around God’s covenant relationship with His people. 

As we read this, we need to keep in mind the nature of relationships as they apply to covenants.  Hosea compares the covenant relationship to that of a husband and his wife and that of parents and their child.  In both examples, one is faithful and the other unfaithful.  The husband and the parent’s love is steadfast and abides but the wife and child walk away from this love. 

The irony in it all is that what they seek to replace and fulfill the love they abandoned with will never measure up or fulfill what they rejected.  Everything they aspire to will only lead to disappointment and unfulfillment.  

How heartbreaking it is for those who love others watch them ignore and walk away from their overtures of love.  Though they forsook the covenant, God’s love for them will not allow Him to abandon them altogether.  God knows that there are some who have not forsaken Him and some who will return to Him. 

Hosea describes the actions and behaviors of those who have forsaken God as people who are eating the wind.  No one can be filled, nourished or satisfied by eating wind but instead they will be empty.  When people forsake God, everything else will leave them unfulfilled because they have abandoned the reason and purpose for their being and life. 

God is left with no choice but to punish His people according to their deeds.  In the lesson text God makes another appeal for them to return to the covenant and restore mercy and justice.  They are called out for their dishonesty and plea of innocence. 

Yet, God points to how He has nurtured them and been there for them.  He says their own blood shall be upon them.  Much of the advancement and prosperity of many nations can be attributed at least in part to a healthy respect for God in their society. 

As societies begin to distance themselves from religion and God, there is a corresponding rise in destructive behaviors resulting from feelings of unfulfillment, isolationism and futility.  Such was the case in Israel when Hosea prophesied and they paid a high price for their choice.  As such is the case today if we fail to turn to love and justice in our society and to give God His proper respect. 

Well, I hope you will be able to attend SS this coming Sunday and share your thoughts with your class.  If you cannot attend your own Sunday School, you are invited to join us online at 9:00 am live and interactive at our website.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section of this preview.  So, until next time remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

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Greetings everyone and thanks for joining me for this edition of our Sunday School preview.  This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “Repent of Injustice” and is found in Jeremiah 22:1-10. 

Last week, I provided a few brief points about the book of the Jeremiah.  I invite you to go back to see or review those points.  Much of what I have to say about this Sunday’s lesson was said in last Sunday’s preview. 

God instructed Jeremiah to deliver a message of repentance and reform to the king of Judah.  He told them they could save their lives if they would obey His word and repent of their ways.  His word to them is found in Jeremiah 22:1-5.  

While God’s judgement had been passed, the severity of that judgement was still a matter the king, his officials and the people still had some control over.  It all depended on the response to God’s call for repentance and reform.  If they would heed His word at the mouth of Jeremiah, He would spare the monarchy and spare the city the total destruction that was to come upon it. 

As we know now, they ignored God offer of grace and mercy and the monarchy and nation was devastated.  God took no pleasure in His judgement against His people.  He gave them chance after chance to repent.  God took this action in order to save His holy seed and preserve His eternal purpose for mankind. 

One thing that must be emphasized and taken from this lesson is how God is the God of covenant.  God has chosen covenant as His means of bringing about the eternal relationship He desires with His human offspring.  Covenant is about relationship.  In a covenant, both parties pledge or promise to uphold parts of an agreement. 

The reason all this came upon them was because they broke covenant with God.  Jeremiah 22 8-9 says “And many nations will pass by this city and ask one another, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?’  Then people will reply, ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God and have worshiped and served other gods.’”. 

Today, God’s covenant is not with any particular nation, but with people of all over the world in times past, present and future who believe in His righteousness and keep faith with Him by trusting in the saving work of Jesus Christ and seeking to do His will. 

These people in whatever time they have, are or shall live seek a covenant relationship with God.  They believe and trust Him to do the right thing.  They accept and receive His mercy and grace.  They believe in His power and ability to save and preserve their souls. 

Contrary to what many may want or think, America is not a Christian nation.  America is a nation that has some Christians in it, but it is not a Christian nation.  If it were a Christian nation, then its laws, policies and behaviors would be based upon treating everyone the way they would want others to treat them. 

Instead, the laws, policies and behaviors are based upon selfishness, greed, racism, individualism and oppression of and disregard for the needs of the poor.  Those who say they are Christians and say and do nothing in regards to these things have hijacked the name to serve their own perverted purposes. 

It’s not the ungodly who will be responsible for bringing judgement upon the nation, but those who claim to be in covenant with God who continue to break His covenant.  This is what in the end brought judgement to Judah and will bring God’s judgment and destruction upon us.  

Well, I hope you will be able to attend SS this coming Sunday and share your thoughts with your class.  If you cannot attend your own Sunday School, you are invited to join us online at 9:00 am live and interactive at our website.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section of this preview.  So, until next time remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

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Greetings everyone and thanks for joining me for this edition of our Sunday School preview.  This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “Peace and Justice Reigns” and is found in Zechariah 8:1-8, 11-17.

Today’s lesson continues to follow a theme we have encountered in previous lessons from the text of the minor prophets.  Zechariah was a post-exilic prophet who prophesied about twenty years after the first exiles returned from Babylon. 

His ministry spoke to the restoration of God’s people, Jerusalem and the temple.  Many of the prophets who warned of God’s judgement also spoke of the restoration after that judgement.

God takes no pleasure in the judgement of His people.  This is why He sends His prophets to warn people and extends His mercy and forgiveness for those who will repent.  What is even worst is that the righteous are caught up with the unrighteous in judgement and suffer many of the same things as the unrighteous. 

When the people returned from Babylon, they found their home in ruins.  The city had been burned, the walls of the city torn down and the temple destroyed.  On top of that, they had little or no wealth or assets. 

As you can image, there was a lot of despair and challenges before them.  They were ridiculed by their neighbors and left mostly highly vulnerable to attack to those who wanted to do them harm. 

In order for God to get out of us what He wants us to be, He must sometime humble us.  When we are humbled, we are more receptive of God’s message.  It is in this backdrop that Zachariah speaks. 

Zachariah calls God the “Lord of hosts” which refers to God’s great abundance and ability to get things done.  While the situation looks hopeless to the returnees, God assured them that He was eager and ready to restore them. 

He tells them the past is over and doesn’t look at them or will deal with them according to their past.  He assures them that a time of peace and prosperity shall return in the midst of ruin.  God is determined to do them good.  He commands them to do what their fathers failed to do like speaking truth, being just and do good and not evil to one another. 

It is like receiving a fresh start.  Today, God’s message of restoration applies to all believers in Christ.  Because of sin, God’s judgements are against mankind.  Because God’s children are among the children of men, they are caught up in the judgements that affect mankind. 

But God has assured His people that He will make it up to them.  In fact, He is eager to do so.  Paul declared that the afflictions we must bear now can’t be compared to the glory we shall receive.  The important thing now is to be faithful to the Lord our God despite what comes and what the world is doing. 

Well, I hope you will be able to attend SS this coming Sunday and share your thoughts with your class.  If you cannot attend your own Sunday School, you are invited to join us online at 9:00 am live and interactive at our website.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section of this preview.  So, until next time remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings everyone and thanks for joining me for this edition of our Sunday School preview.  This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “A Vision of Restoration” and is found in Zephaniah 3:14-20. 

Today’s lesson follows a theme we have encountered in previous lessons from the text of the minor prophets.  Zephaniah prophesied in the pre-exilic era to the kingdom of Judah. 

Just like his contemporaries, he decried the idolatry, oppression, unfaithfulness and unrighteousness that had become a way of life among the people.  Even the false prophets and priest were guilty of the same things.  They all warned of God’s impeding judgement against them.  Yet the people would not heed their warnings. 

Much of what was going on then is going on today.  People don’t fear God’s judgement nor do they believe it will come.  After Zephaniah gives his warning, he turns his attention to the “daughter of Zion or Jerusalem”.  This phase refers to those who are the faithful and elect of God. 

Because they will suffer along with the unrighteous, he assures them that God will restore them of His judgements.  He speaks of a time when God will be with them and among them as their King.  All those who spoke against Him and all their enemies will be removed.  They will experience perfect peace. 

He assures them that the Lord is their Savior and delights in them, rejoices over them and loves them.  God promises to gather them from every part of the world and turn their shame into glory no matter what their condition or state of oppression.  

At that time, He will judge all who oppressed them.  He promises to bring them home in glory and honor and all people of the earth shall see it unfold before their very eyes.  This is the gospel message that Jesus brought to us.  It is the promise of a day when God will reward the righteous and judge the unbelievers. 

Today, as then, the righteous will suffer along with the unrighteous.  But today, as then, God promises to make it up to His people who He calls the “daughter of Jerusalem or Zion”.  John in Revelation calls the church the “new Jerusalem” and a “bride” of Christ. 

Today, we must resist the temptation to become skeptical and faithless.  Just like Hosea 4, Zephaniah 3:1-2 says of the people they have no restraint.  The people are rebellious and defiled and accept no correction. 

But as the true people of God, God’s people must continue to adhere to God’s Word while employing others to do the same.  Then and only then will we too be part of the remnant God is coming to carry home. 

Well, I hope you will be able to attend SS this coming Sunday and share your thoughts with your class.  If you cannot attend your own Sunday School, you are invited to join us online at 9:00 am live and interactive at our website.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section of this preview.  So, until next time remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings everyone and thanks for joining me for this edition of our Sunday School preview.  This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “The Lord Loves Justice” and is found in Isaiah 61:8-11; 62:2-4. 

Just a few prior Sundays the lesson was about “God’s Just Servant”.  Today’s lesson is a continuation of our look at this “Servant”.  We concluded that the Servant generally speaking was everyone who is doing what the Servant is doing. 

The Servant, while showing the world what justice is and what is looks like, is proclaiming the good news of salvation, mercy and forgiveness to all who are predestined to receive it.  The Servant’s message is to the people of God. 

He cites God as saying He will compensate or reward His people for their faithfulness with an everlasting covenant.  The rest of the passages in the lesson are describing the affects those to whom the servant is sent and ministers to will have upon those in their midst. 

For example, they shall stand out among people and those who see them will see that they are the blessed of God.  The servant expresses his gratitude for all God has done and is doing for him and through him.  He praises God for what He is doing in the eyes of all the nations or people on the earth. 

He, the servant, speaking to those to whom he is sent tells them how the rest of the world will see them.  Righteousness, glory and a new name shall be given them by the Lord.  They shall be seen as the Lord’s royal treasure.  A people who may at one time been called and seen as desolate and forsaken shall be seen that way no more. 

In our BTU, we are studying 2 Peter 2 in which Peter describes the Christian’s new identity.  It fits in with what Isaiah is saying about the servant and the people of the God.  Today, the people of God are called to stand out and appear different and blessed from the rest of the world. 

They are a royal treasure and part of a royal family and are called to show forth the praise of God who has called us out of darkness to the light.  God wants to use His church today just as the servant and those he ministered to were used to glorify God then. We shall do this by forgetting and leaving behind our past life and allowing God to elevate us with His glory and righteousness in our new identity. 

Well, I hope you will be able to attend SS this coming Sunday and share your thoughts with your class.  If you cannot attend your own Sunday School, you are invited to join us online at 9:00 am live and interactive at our website.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section of this preview.  So, until next time remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings everyone and thanks for joining me for this edition of our Sunday School preview.  This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “Injustice Will Be Punished” and is found in the Book of Esther 7:1 10. 

The Book of Esther is unique among the Old Testament books.  It and the Song of Solomon are the only books that don’t mention God by name.  Esther, while not specifically mentioning God, is included in the Hebrew bible because God can be seen working behind the scenes in what unfolds in the book. 

Esther is the story about how a Jew’s refusal to bow before a man lead to a plot to destroy all Jews in the land of Persia.  The Persians had conquered the Chaldeans who had destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and led the nation of Israel captive into Babylon.  The Persians then freed the Jews and allowed those who wanted to return home to do so. 

Esther, a young Jewish virgin among the Jews who remained, became the Queen of the Persian King Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes I.  Her Jewish heritage was concealed from those who didn’t already know. 

One of the things this Book reveals is the power of the King over His subjects.  There was no one to check the power of the King.  The King’s word was the law.  The king could by his word execute whoever he chose and by his word could pardon whoever he chose.  It was death to insult the king or to violate established protocol concerning the king. 

Esther was the queen and her cousin Mordecai was a high-ranking official in the king’s court.  Mordecai refused to pay homage to another high-ranking official in the king’s court named Haman which led to the plot to kill Mordecai and all the Jews. 

Mordecai sent word to his cousin Queen Esther to intervene on behalf of herself and all the Jews.  The problem was she had to be careful how to go about revealing the plot the kill her by the King’s trusted aid Haman.  She therefore fasted for 3 days along with the rest of the Jews.

Her plan was to win the favor of the King and reveal the plot in an intimate setting with Haman presence and hope that the King would side with her and her people.  In order to get this intimate setting she would have to approach the king.  But it was death to approach the king uninvited.  But the stakes were so high that she famously said “if I perish, let me perish”. 

Esther put on her royal garment and when to the palace to see the king.  Before she approached the king, the king saw her and extended his royal scepter which granted her permission to approach him.  She requested a banquet at which time she would execute her plan to reveal the plot to kill her. 

The aide who wanted to kill the Jews, was unaware that Esther the queen was also a Jew as was the King.  It was a shock and surprise to both Haman and the king when Esther revealed that Haman plan would also kill her.  The king was furious and torn.  He realized he had been manipulated by Haman into destroying people he loved and cared about. 

He left the room to cool off and when he returned, he found Haman in a compromised position with the queen and immediately order him hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.  Some translations say he was impaled. 

The king issued a new order which allowed the Jews not only to defend themselves on the day they were to be slain, but to slay all their enemies with his permission.  So the Jews in Persia was spared from destruction and some see the hand of God working to deliver them from their enemies and in everything that happened.

Mordecai’s refusal to bow is seen by many as an act like that of Daniel and the three young Hebrews who also refused to compromise their faith in God as the only one deserving of reverence. 

We too may be called upon to be uncompromising as a matter of faith in something we are asked or ordered to do.  Let us hope and pray we will have the faith and courage to take the right stand if and when that time comes. 

Well, I hope you will be able to attend SS this coming Sunday and share your thoughts with your class.  If you cannot attend your own Sunday School, you are invited to join us online at 9:00 am live and interactive at our website.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section of this preview.  So, until next time remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings everyone and thanks for joining me for this edition of our Sunday School preview.  This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “Resurrection Hope” and is found in 1 Corinthians 15:various verses. 

Chapter 15 of 1^st Corinthians is one of the places Paul addresses some of the concerns Christians have about resurrection.  In this lesson, Paul assures his readers concerning the certainty of Christ’s resurrection and the fact that it is according to scripture.  Allow me to bring some clarity regarding the 3 days and nights of Jesus death. 

Any part of a day is considered a day and any part of night is considered a night.  So whether a day last 16 hours or 8 hours it is a day.  The same is true for a night.  It would also be true if a day or night lasted 3 hours or 3 minutes.  This is what happened at Calvary. 

Darkness, which is called night, came upon the earth from the 6^th hour which is noon to the 12^th hour which is 3 pm.  During that time, Christ died in darkness or night which is the first night.  When the sun returned, that became the first day. 

When night fell on Friday, that became the second night.  With sunrise on Saturday, that became the second day.  When night fell on Saturday, that became the third night and with sunrise on Sunday morning that became the third day.  So Jesus died and rose on the 3^rd day. 

Paul then says that there are many eyewitnesses of Jesus resurrection, including himself, most of which were alive at the time he was writing this letter.  So he first wanted to assure his readers of the certainty that Jesus is alive.  Otherwise, Paul argues there is no point to anything he or anyone else was doing or saying about Jesus. 

A second point Paul made in this lesson and letter was the logic God used toward the fate of mankind.  Since all mankind was in Adam, when Adam died all mankind died with him.  By the man Jesus, God made all mankind alive.  All people died by one man, now all people will be made alive by one man. 

His third and final point in this lesson is that the here and now is not the same as that which is to be.  What we sow is not what we reap in this sense.  When a seed is planted, what comes from the seed is and looks different from what was planted.  The same is true with the resurrection. 

Our flesh and mortal bodies are the seed.  Our bodies are weak, dishonorable, corrupt and natural which are not the final state just as a seed is not the final state.  But Paul says that these bodies are used as the input like a seed from which a strong, incorruptible, glorified and spiritual body and being shall emerge. 

There are many other things Paul mentioned concerning the resurrection in this 15^th chapter of this letter that are not part of the lesson text.  But all of these things taken together form the basis of a strong case for our resurrection hope.

 If some of you are not able to attend or have Sunday School because of meeting restrictions imposed on the churches, we intend to live stream our Sunday School and Mission session beginning at 9:00 am and 10:00 am respectively and all are welcome to join us if you can’t attend your own. 

You can join by going to our website and selecting our Online SS and BTU class.  Well, I hope you will be able to attend SS this coming Sunday and share your thoughts with your class.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section of this preview.  So, until next time remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings everyone and thanks for joining me for this edition of our Sunday School preview.  This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “Resurrection Hope” and is found in 1 Corinthians 15:various verses. 

Chapter 15 of 1^st Corinthians is one of the places Paul addresses some of the concerns Christians have about resurrection.  In this lesson, Paul assures his readers concerning the certainty of Christ’s resurrection and the fact that it is according to scripture.  Allow me to bring some clarity regarding the 3 days and nights of Jesus death. 

Any part of a day is considered a day and any part of night is considered a night.  So whether a day last 16 hours or 8 hours it is a day.  The same is true for a night.  It would also be true if a day or night lasted 3 hours or 3 minutes.  This is what happened at Calvary. 

Darkness, which is called night, came upon the earth from the 6^th hour which is noon to the 12^th hour which is 3 pm.  During that time, Christ died in darkness or night which is the first night.  When the sun returned, that became the first day. 

When night fell on Friday, that became the second night.  With sunrise on Saturday, that became the second day.  When night fell on Saturday, that became the third night and with sunrise on Sunday morning that became the third day.  So Jesus died and rose on the 3^rd day. 

Paul then says that there are many eyewitnesses of Jesus resurrection, including himself, most of which were alive at the time he was writing this letter.  So he first wanted to assure his readers of the certainty that Jesus is alive.  Otherwise, Paul argues there is no point to anything he or anyone else was doing or saying about Jesus. 

A second point Paul made in this lesson and letter was the logic God used toward the fate of mankind.  Since all mankind was in Adam, when Adam died all mankind died with him.  By the man Jesus, God made all mankind alive.  All people died by one man, now all people will be made alive by one man. 

His third and final point in this lesson is that the here and now is not the same as that which is to be.  What we sow is not what we reap in this sense.  When a seed is planted, what comes from the seed is and looks different from what was planted.  The same is true with the resurrection.

Our flesh and mortal bodies are the seed.  Our bodies are weak, dishonorable, corrupt and natural which are not the final state just as a seed is not the final state.  But Paul says that these bodies are used as the input like a seed from which a strong, incorruptible, glorified and spiritual body and being shall emerge. 

There are many other things Paul mentioned concerning the resurrection in this 15^th chapter of this letter that are not part of the lesson text.  But all of these things taken together form the basis of a strong case for our resurrection hope.  

If some of you are not able to attend or have Sunday School because of meeting restrictions imposed on the churches, we intend to live stream our Sunday School and Mission session beginning at 9:00 am and 10:00 am respectively and all are welcome to join us if you can’t attend your own. 

You can join by going to our website and selecting our Online SS and BTU class.  Well, I hope you will be able to attend SS this coming Sunday and share your thoughts with your class.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section of this preview.  So, until next time remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments

 

Greetings everyone and thanks for joining me for this edition of our Sunday School preview.  This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “God’s Just Servant” and is found in Isaiah 42:1-9. 

 

Isaiah is the first of the major prophets in both order in the bible and time of writing.  The first 39 chapters deal primary with pre-exilic Judah and Israel, their unrighteousness which led to the captivity and God’s call for repentance. 

 

The rest of the chapters (40-66) are more prophetic and speaks to and about a time when God will expand His influence, reach and offer of salvation beyond Israel to the rest of the world.

 

Today’s lesson focus is on God’s Servant.  The Servant Isaiah speaks of is not named.  Some scholars believe it refers to Jesus and others say Israel.  It is important to keep in mind that the word servant carries with it the meaning of relationship as that of Master and slave. 

 

The servant then is one who is in complete obedience to God.  The servant has a mission to accomplish even at the cost of his own life for the master.  God has a special relationship with His servant. 

 

First and foremost, God loves His servant.  He has equipped His servant by His Spirit to carry out his task.  That task is to connect God’s people who are and have been separated from Him back together with Him.  That task is the Servant’s task in the text, it was Jesus’s task and it remains the task of the Church today.  

 

The methods the Servant was to use is and was one of gentle persuasion.  The Servant is to proclaim liberty to all of God’s captive people.  He is to inform them of who God is that is calling them.  God is the Creator period.  There is no other like Him. 

 

He is the giver and sustainer of all life.  He is a covenant keeper with His people.  He is a forgiver of pass sins so that His followers can walk in newness of life.  He proclaims things before they happen so that when they do happen, people will know who He is. 

 

Isaiah didn’t name the Servant in this passage today because I believe the Servant is not any one individual, but a personification of everyone who is doing what the Servant is doing.  The Servant, while showing the world what justice is and what is looks like, is proclaiming the good news of salvation, mercy and forgiveness to all who are predestined to receive it. 

 

In this proclamation, the Servant is telling the world about our mighty Creator to whom every living thing owes its existence.  It is a beautiful thing and thought to be the Servant Isaiah is speaking of in the passage. 

 

We, who are the people of God, are on a mission to proclaim the majesty of God and to connect all of God’s children with Him.  Some of you may not be able to attend or have Sunday School because of meeting restrictions impose on the churches.  We intend to live stream our Sunday School and BTU beginning at 9:00 am and all are welcome to join us if you can’t attend your own. 

 

The stream will be on our Facebook page, Youtube channel and website.  Well, I hope you will be able to attend SS this coming Sunday and share your thoughts with your class.  If you have any comments or questions, be sure to place them in the comment section of this preview.  So, until next time remember to fear God and keep His commandments.

 

Pastor Jordan

 

Comments